Sister act: Beatrice and Eugenie make first public appearances at Trooping the Colour parade since Fergie scandal

By Daily Mail Reporter

On parade: Princess Eugenie (left) and Princess Beatrice leave Buckingham Palace to attend the Trooping the Colour ceremony in central London today. The event marks their first public appearance since their mother Sarah Ferguson was caught offering access to Prince Andrew for £500,000


If they looked nervous, it was understandable.

Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie made their first public appearances today, three weeks after their mother, the Duchess of York, was caught out selling access to their father Prince Andrew.

Sat side-by-side in a horse-drawn carriage, the pair joined thousands of well-wishers in celebrating the Queen's official birthday at the Trooping the Colour parade.

The televised military spectacle event is held every year at Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall, central London.

The parade started under cloudy skies but they began to clear as the morning went on, allowing the sun to shine through.

The Queen, wearing a summery lilac outfit and hat, took the royal salute as senior members of the Royal Family looked on.

She celebrated her actual birthday on April 21, when she turned 84, but today's ceremony marked her official birthday, which is always in June.

She first took the royal salute in 1951, when she deputised for her sick father, George VI, and has continued receiving the mark of respect every year except 1955, when there was a national rail strike.


Pomp and ceremony: Thousands of well-wishers joined the Royal Family in celebrating the Queen's official birthday along The Mall


Official birthday: The Queen, pictured with Prince Philip, celebrated her actual 84th in April


Thousands of people, including friends and family of those involved, packed into seats and stands around Horse Guards Parade to watch precision marching by hundreds of Guardsmen.

Hundreds of soldiers took part in the annual display of pomp and pageantry.

The Duke of Edinburgh, who underwent minor surgery on his left hand earlier this week, attended, as did the Prince of Wales, who has been advised by doctors to rest due to a chest infection.

The Duchess of Cornwall, who suffered a broken leg earlier this year and had the cast removed just two weeks ago, joined the Royal Family, along with Prince William.

Prince William, a Flight Lieutenant, is training to be an RAF search and rescue helicopter pilot.


Line-up: The Royal Family stands on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch aeroplanes pass by


Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince William were also in attendance


The Princess Royal, Princess Anne, who is Colonel of the Blues and Royals, rode her charger, Elizabeth, in the parade.

The Colour paraded on Horse Guards this year is the flag of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards.

After the Queen took the salute on Horse Guards, the royals headed back to Buckingham Palace to gather on the balcony to watch the traditional RAF flypast.

Thirty aircraft of 13 different types took part, including World War II Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster, modern Typhoon fighters and the Red Arrows aerobatic display team.

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight led the formation to commemorate its 70th anniversary.


Thousands of people, including friends and family of those taking part, packed into seats and stands around Horse Guards Parade to watch precision marching by hundreds of Guardsmen


Three weeks ago, Prince Andrew’s 50-year-old ex-wife Sarah Ferguson caused huge embarrassment to the Royal Family when she was filmed a fortnight ago asking for £500,000 from an undercover reporter to gain access to her former husband.

Last week, she told U.S. talkshow host Oprah Winfrey that she accepted the down payment, which was stuffed into a briefcase, to ‘help a friend’. She claimed she had been inebriated.


source:dailymail